For two decades, students have navigated the approaches, theories, and controversies surrounding social movements with the thought-provoking guidance of Stewart, Smith, and Denton. In the Fourth Edition, the authors continue their synthesis, application, and extension of social movement persuasion. The new edition includes a chapter on identification and polarization and one on argument from conspiracy. The other chapters have been thoroughly updated and reorganized to emphasize the functions of persuasive acts and the symbolism created by movement members to explain their perspectives. Many examples are drawn from recent movements such as animal rights, militias, the religious right, and resistance to the globalization of the economy and production. The use of the Internet by movements provides yet another resource for projecting a particular worldview and another window for the study of social movements.

Preface 1. The Social Movement as a Unique Collective Phenomenon 2. Social Movements as Interpretive Systems 3. The Persuasive Functions of Social Movements 4. Personal Needs and Social Movements: John Birchers and Gray Panthers 5. Leadership in Social Movements 6. The Life Cycle of Social Movements 7. Identification and Polarization in Social Movements 8. Slogans, Obscenity, and Ridicule in Social Movements 9. Music in Social Movements 10. Political Argument in Social Movements 11. Argument from Narrative Vision in Social Movements 12. Argument from Transcendence in Social Movements 13. Argument from Conspiracy in Social Movements 14. Resisting Social Movements

For two decades, students have navigated the approaches, theories, and controversies surrounding social movements with the thought-provoking guidance of Stewart, Smith, and Denton. In the Fourth Edition, the authors continue their synthesis, application, and extension of social movement persuasion. The new edition includes a chapter on identification and polarization and one on argument from conspiracy. The other chapters have been thoroughly updated and reorganized to emphasize the functions of persuasive acts and the symbolism created by movement members to explain their perspectives. Many examples are drawn from recent movements such as animal rights, militias, the religious right, and resistance to the globalization of the economy and production. The use of the Internet by movements provides yet another resource for projecting a particular worldview and another window for the study of social movements.

Table of Contents

Preface 1. The Social Movement as a Unique Collective Phenomenon 2. Social Movements as Interpretive Systems 3. The Persuasive Functions of Social Movements 4. Personal Needs and Social Movements: John Birchers and Gray Panthers 5. Leadership in Social Movements 6. The Life Cycle of Social Movements 7. Identification and Polarization in Social Movements 8. Slogans, Obscenity, and Ridicule in Social Movements 9. Music in Social Movements 10. Political Argument in Social Movements 11. Argument from Narrative Vision in Social Movements 12. Argument from Transcendence in Social Movements 13. Argument from Conspiracy in Social Movements 14. Resisting Social Movements